A new ally has joined Israel in the struggle against Hezbollah. Al-Qaida recently published a harsh attack on Hezbollah, in which it calls on Shiites to leave the renounce the organization if they do not wish to be the target of Al-Qaida attacks.

In a recording broadcasted on Al-Qaida websites, the commander of the Abdullah Azzam Shaheed Brigade in Syria, Majd al-Majd, stated that the claim that of the Shiite leaders that Israel and the United States are responsible for the murder of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Al-Hariri and for sparking the rebellion in Syria are baseless. The ones behind the murder were the leaders of Hezbollah, the keepers of the border with Israel.

Al-Majd, a Saudi citizen who lived until recently in the Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon, and from there moved to Syria, is on Saudi Arabias most wanted list. Two months ago, he was elected to be the head of the Syrian branch of Al-Qaida. According to Jordanian intelligence, Al-Majd oversees nearly 6,000 militants that entered Syria from Iraq and Turkey.

Al-Majd tells the Lebanese Shiites that sending your sons from Lebanon so that they fight on the side of the criminal regime in Syria, kill our sons and frighten our wives, is considered support for the oppressor against the oppressed, and fully participating in a crimeHassan Nasarallahs characterization of the members of the regime who were killed as martyrs is an insult to millions of Muslims. Al-Qaida is a Sunni organization, and its leaders see Hezbollahs rule in Lebanon and the minority Alawite rule in Syria as a reality that must be forever changed. Al-Majd does not hesitate to threaten all of Lebanon, should Hezbollah continue to support the Assad regime. Hezbollahs existence is a threat to Lebanons security and tourism industry, he said, hinting that his organization would not think twice before planning an attack on tourists in Lebanon, should the state continue to strengthen Hezbollah and its leaders.

The Al-Qaida branch in Syria is competing with another jihadist organization headed by Jordanian Salafi preacher Muhammad Al-Shalabi, also known as Abu Sayyaf. In an interview with Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq, Abu Sayyef said that he oversees hundreds of fighters from Jordan, Iraq, Libya and other Arab states, some of which are fighters from Al-Qaida who went to battle in Iraq, and that his organization received the recognition of Al-Qaida. His organization claimed responsibility for several impressive bombings in Syria, while Al-Majd claimed his organization was responsible for those same bombings.

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A power struggle is now taking place between the two organizations, while Abu Sayyefs group is focusing on operations in southern Syria, specifically in Daraa. On the other hand, Al-Majd is focusing on northern Syria, and has even taken control over one of the border crossings between Syria and Turkey. Al-Majd demands that his fighters, as well as those of the Free Syria Army refrain from carrying out attacks with explosive devices, since they can harm innocent people. It seems, though, that said expressions of compassion are just another way to criticize Abu Sayyefs organization.

Another power is expected to enter the fray, as well. A group of Al-Qaida militants from Yemen, have apparently decided to journey to Syria to fight against Assads regime, and attempt to seize a stake in ruling the country. According to reports in Yemen, an initial group of militants has already begun the journey to Syria, and there is much concern that a religious war between the organizations will erupt as well – to be fought alongside the war against Assad.

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.